GRADE 12 HUMSS-G NOTES IN PRACTICAL RESEARCH – QUARTER 1 LESSON 8 – SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY I. Scope and Delimitation of the Study The scope of the study refers to the parameters under which the study will be operating -- what the study covers -- and is closely connected to the framing of the problem (Simon & Goes 2013,). It is the problem that you seek to resolve that will fit within certain parameters. It describes where and when the study is conducted and who the subjects are or the population included, and it also deals with the extent of the study to be made. In short, scope means all those things that will be covered in your research project. Limitations are constraints that are largely beyond the control of the researcher but could affect the study outcome (Simon & Goes 2013, 2). It often flows from methodology and study design choices in which each different option in methodology and design has limitations. All studies have limitations that might influence the end results and conclusions of the study (Sacred Heart University Library 2020). Some of the examples of limitations are sample bias, insufficient sample size, lack of prior research studies on the topic, limited access to data, time constraints, cultural and other types of bias (Sacred Heart University Library 2020). Delimitations are those characteristics that arise from limitations in the scope of the study (defining the boundaries) and by conscious exclusionary and inclusionary decisions made during the development of the study plan (Simon & Goes 2013, 4). Delimitations result from the specific choices made by the researcher which should be mentioned in the study like the objectives and the questions, variables of interest, theoretical perspectives that were adopted, the paradigm, the theoretical framework, and the population you are not studying (and why not), etc. You may use the following phrases when writing the scope and delimitation of the study (Barrot 2017,36): • This study covers… • This study focuses on… • The coverage of this study… Scope • This study consists of… • This study does not cover the… • This study is limited to… Delimitation • The researcher limited this study to… LIMITATIONS VS. DELIMITATIONS Limitations • Shortcomings, conditions or influence or elements that cannot be controlled by the researcher, but it could affect the end results of the study • the researcher has no control • what you cannot do in your study Key word: weakness Delimitations • It is the boundaries that the researcher has set for the study. • arising from what the researcher’s wants to exclude and include • the researcher has the control of the limit • what you will not do in your study Key word: boundary II. Components in Developing the Scope and Delimitation The scope and delimitation describe the parameters to which the study is set (Barrot 2017, 36). It is the two important elements in research that inform the readers what information should be included and why it should be included in the study. The components of the scope and delimitation answer the basic questions (Wh questions) includes (but not limited to) the following items (Barrot 2017, 36; Faltado III et al, 21): Figure 1. Components of the Scope and Delimitation of the Study 1. What—The topic of investigation and the variables included Example: attitude towards speaking in English 2. Where—The locale, venue, or settings of the research Example: Benguet National High School 3. When— The time frame in which the study will be conducted Example: School Year 2023-2024 4. Why— The general objectives of the study Example: To determine the attitude towards speaking in English 5. Who—The subject of the study, characteristics of the participants in the study (age, sex, education, economic status, civil status, and other traits), the population Example: Grade 12 Senior High School Academic Track students 6. How—The methodology of the research which may include the research design, data gathering technique, sampling procedures, and data analysis scheme Example: Descriptive-correlational method with the use of English Speaking Attitude Questionnaire, random sampling Example: The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of using cheese and purple sweet potato “ube halaya” in making Pinoy pandesal. The study will be focused on the nutritional value of cheese and purple sweet potato, profitability, the shelf life of Pinoy pandesal, satisfaction level, and its marketability. The respondents of this study will involve 100 students and teachers of San Juan National High School that will be selected using random sampling. The study will be limited to senior high school students and teachers. This will be conducted during the Second Semester, School Year 2023-2024. Identifying the coverage and limitation of a study is important in research. Doing this would help in narrowing down the focus of the study prevent the researcher from including things that are not relevant or even confusion on what to cover because of many possible areas to investigate.
